VBA protests in Maharashtra against paper leak, police crackdown; Ambedkar says 3,500 detained ahead of bandh

The Prakash Ambedkar-led Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi on Thursday staged protests across Maharashtra after calling for a bandh against the Centre’s education policies, paper leak controversies and the alleged police crackdown on students in Delhi.

VBA supporters blocked a major road in Mumbai, disrupting traffic, while demonstrations were also held in other cities including Nagpur, Pune and Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar.

“Nearly 3,500 workers of the VBA have been detained. Unfortunately, no action is being taken against those responsible for the NEET paper leak. There is a heavy police deployment everywhere. This is unfortunate,” Ambedkar, a grandson of Dr B R Ambedkar, told reporters in the morning.

He also alleged that a section of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) was attempting to provoke a confrontation.

“One section of the RSS wants conflict. The group is trying to intimidate VBA workers and supporters. The group is pro-BJP, hence it wants conflict. The conflict will benefit the state government,” he claimed.

Ambedkar had earlier appealed to people to observe a statewide shut-down on July 23, alleging that the Union government’s education policies were aimed at discouraging critical thinking among the youth.

“The Union government does not want people to be educated, as education expands understanding and encourages critical thinking. That is why the current regime does not want the youth to have it,” he had said while announcing the bandh.

He had not discussed the proposed bandh with any political leaders in the state, he said.

Ambedkar also alleged that police used pellet guns to disperse the supporters of the Cockroach Janta Party's ongoing agitation in the national capital, claiming such action was against United Nations advisories. Students were beaten up and subjected to brutal force, he said.

Corruption in the education system had come to light, the VBA chief said, adding that the bandh had been organised to protest against these developments.

Sujat Ambedkar, Prakash Ambedkar's son and a VBA leader, told reporters, “The protest is to support the demand for the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan. He is responsible for the NEET fiasco and should be held accountable.”

VBA protesters on Thursday halted traffic on the Panvel-Sion road in Mumbai.

A male protester said, “People should understand the reason behind the protest as the NEET exam paper leak has affected lakhs of students and their parents. The Union government should take action against the minister and others involved in it.”

A woman, who sat on the road near Sion, told reporters that children were made to suffer because of the Centre’s “apathy”. “Our protest will continue as the Union government is yet to take corrective action,” she said.

Some shops in Byculla, Sion and neighbouring areas in Mumbai remained closed.

In Nagpur, VBA workers gathered at Samvidhan Square and raised slogans against the government.

In Pune, members of various social organisations joined VBA workers in a march from Bhide Wada to the old Zilla Parishad office.

“We are seeking the resignation of Dharmendra Pradhan. Thousands of students have suffered due to the NEET paper leak, but Pradhan is not ready to resign,” an agitator said.

Another protester condemned the lathi charge by the Delhi police on demonstrators. “The police used excessive force,” the protester alleged.

Asked about Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s assurance that paper leak cases would be tried in fast-track courts, protesters questioned why the government took so long to respond.

“Students are still agitating and their demands remain unmet. Our demand for Pradhan’s resignation has also not been fulfilled,” another protester said.

A student participating in the march alleged that the government was responsible for the paper leaks and that Pradhan must step down.

Police detained 15 VBA workers in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar as they who moved in a group and appealed to shopkeepers to observe a shut-down.

The activists walked from Kranti Chowk and were stopped by police at the Paithan Gate area.

(Source: PTI)